After Lowering Speed Limits for Pedestrian Safety, Town Writes 1,000% More Speeding Tickets

Police are enforcing speed limits in the name of public safety in North Haledon, New jersey. Drivers are being urged to respect the speed limit.

1 minute read

July 30, 2019, 6:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Speed Limit

Rhonda Roth / Shutterstock

"Tougher speed limits have caused a huge spike in tickets handed out to drivers on some local thoroughfares, and no one is apologizing for it," reports Philip DeVencentis from the Passaic County, New Jersey town of North Haledon.

"Police began cracking down in mid-February, enforcing a new ordinance that reduced speed limits on seven portions of four Passaic County roads: Belmont Avenue, High Mountain Road, North Haledon Avenue and Squaw Brook Road," adds DeVencentis.

Police Chief Todd Darby is quoted in the article justifying the new speed limits and increasing number of tickets on the basis of public safety. "Darby cited a number of serious pedestrian strikes, particularly on High Mountain Road, within the past five years," according to DeVencentis.

Compare this corner of New Jersey's strategy for enforcing traffic laws to that of Los Angeles, which in 2018 raised speed limits to enable more enforcement in accordance with state law.

Monday, July 29, 2019 in The North Jersey Record

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

3 hours ago - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

4 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

5 hours ago - Cities Today